First Things First: Making Impressions Count Pt. 2

As we discussed in the last installment of First Things First:Making Impressions count PT.1, you are constantly encountering someone or groups of people, whether a social event, gathering or business meeting and these people are making instant opinions of you at first sight. There are some important concepts a person must understand in order make those first encounters the most true to self and to set the tone for every new relationship you have. And how you portray yourself in any encounter can be a direct reflection of self. Here are some tips to make every new meeting you experience flow a lot easier.

What They see is what They get

The initial point of contact you have with a person, with out even saying a word out your mouth is your outer appearance and the clothes you choose to wear have a world of a lot to do with the opinion that is formed of you. When meeting someone for the first time it is essential to fit the part. Doing this requires a bit of research, you must always know where your going in order to know whats expected of you. Always have in mind when dressing for the occasion, what type of event your attending,the type of people who are going to be there and how you want to be perceived by the people you are meeting.

Thinking about how you want to be perceived is key to making a great first impression. How ever you perceive yourself to be can be directly reflected by your appearance. Be sure to do a quick search on what is normally worn at the type of event you are attending then make the outfit you select personal to you by placing your “spin” on it.

Don’t Forget to be Original

Individuality is one of your best bets when making first impressions. If you can make a positive impression by being yourself this can never be forgotten. Individuality with in context of the event or situation is important to consider. If you are attending a business event you would still be in business attire but think of adding a unique scarf or handkerchief to your ensemble to help you stand out. Think subtle in most formal situations but never overlook the fact that you can always add a little flair to ensure your true self is getting across. You can always add a little piece of you to everything you do from personalized scarfs, business cards with a distinct background or ties with a one of a kind design.

Positivity

“Think positive thoughts, think positive thoughts,” have this phrase running through your head before every encounter if you have trouble with remaining positive. Thinking positive can make the encounter a “postive” and fulfilling one. Go into every new meeting thinking the best and observe your findings. Your attitude projects through any and everything you do. Thinking positive in the face of adversity or even nervousness will make your conversations move extremely smooth.

Practice that shake

Learn how to greet with a firm handshake. Handshakes are one of the easiest ways to establish rapport and can tell a great deal about a person. Starting off with a powerful and assertive shake will show a high confidence level and can be highly effective. Research shows it takes an average of three hours of continuous interaction to develop the same level of rapport that you can get with a single handshake.

Be Confident

With going back to positive thinking, it is important to think confident. Believe it or not whats going through your head can definitively be shown through your body language. Direct your mind to project confidence through body language and gestures. This includes your tone, posture and making consistent eye contact. By doing so this encourages both you and the other person to feel better at ease while conversing with one another.

You have just seven seconds to make a first impression and usually these impressions are permanent, so make the best of it. Never take any meeting no matter how by chance it might be lightly. Every encounter you have from meetings, interviews and parties serves the opportunity to make a good impression. You never know where the last conversation you had will take you.